If Madonna doesn't change her ways, she could be going from "Hung Up" to locked up.

German prosecutors have announced plans to monitor the erstwhile Material Girl's Sunday concert in Duesseldorf to see if she goes ahead with the mock-crucifixion routine that has been drawing religious ire since her Confessions tour kicked off in May.

Should the pop star, who turns 48 Wednesday, perform the shock shtick, Johannes Mocken, a spokesman for the local authorities, told the Associated Press it could be construed as insulting religious beliefs, an offense that's considered not only insensitive, but illegal in Germany.

If Madonna goes through with the Jesus-channeling act and the locals find it insulting, she could face a maximum sentence of three years in prison. Meaning, Madonna's next reinvention could be as an inmate.

The singer's latest grasp at controversy has been a part of her act since the tour kicked off earlier this summer, and takes place during her rendition of the 1986 pop ballad "Live to Tell."

During the song, Madonna is suspended above the stage on a 20-foot mirrored cross, donning a crown of fake thorns, as images of Third World poverty and numbers representing the 12 million children orphaned by AIDS in Africa is displayed on a screen behind her.

Mocken said that authorities would be watching the situation closely.

However, prosecutors won't actually be in attendance at the weekend gig; instead, Mocken explains, they will rely on media reports of the concert to determine whether or not Madonna was exercising her artistic freedoms or simply breaking the law.

Meanwhile, the leotard-favoring songbird has defended the routine, claiming its imagery is part of an appeal to her audience to inspire concert-goers to donate to AIDS charities.

Liz Rosenberg, Madonna's longtime publicist, chimed in by saying the performance was not intended to be "disrespectful toward the church."

"Madonna does not think Jesus would be mad at her, as his teaching of loving thy neighbor and tolerance is Madonna's message as well," Rosenberg said when the outcry first began.

But many religious leaders aren't buying it.

Earlier this month, Madonna's performance was denounced by both the Church of England--before the routine even hit her adopted country's shores--as well as Catholic, Muslim and Jewish leaders in Rome who banded together against the singer's "blasphemous" act.

Further inflaming the Roman protests was the fact that Madonna took to the stage just a mile away from the gates of the Vatican.

Of course, the Queen of Pop has a history of courting controversy, particularly among religious types, and her mock-crucifixion isn't the only thing bugging her critics these days.

Last week, another Catholic-based group protested the placement of an H&M clothing ad featuring Madonna being draped over the scaffolding of Milan's landmark Duomo.

The billboard, which featured nothing more than the white tracksuit-clad singer gazing downward, was criticized for having been erected less than a week after her cross-writhing routine in Rome.

I've never heard the guy's music, but this story just sickened me. How could anyone kill a tame bear for sport? Scumbag.

Country music star Gentry charged with killing bear

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Troy Lee Gentry, half of the country music duo Montgomery Gentry, has been charged with killing a tame bear and then making it look as if it was a hunting trophy, authorities said on Wednesday.

A top country act since the late 1990s with such hits as "Good Clean Fun," Gentry, 39, was arraigned in federal court this week on a charge of conspiracy to falsely label an animal.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

According to an indictment unsealed this week, in October 2004 Gentry paid $4,650 to shoot the "trophy-caliber" bear named "Cubby" at the Minnesota Wildlife Connection in northern Minnesota, which advertises itself as a place where animals can be photographed in the wild.

After using a bow and arrow to kill the animal inside its pen, Gentry and the owner of the preserve tagged the bear and registered it with the state as if it had been killed in the wild. A videotape was edited to make it appear that Gentry had hunted down the bear.

Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.' - Isaac Asimov

I was thinking of the immortal words of Socrates, who said, "... I drank what?"

NEW DELHI (Hollywood Reporter) - Paris Hilton is too hot for Indian censors.

The country's Central Board of Film Certification has issued an "Adult" certification for her new music video "Stars Are Blind," which means it cannot be broadcast on any channel.

An official at her local label, EMI Virgin India Ltd., reported that the board said the clip had sexual connotations.

"In fact, we had edited the video and sent a fresh copy, but they weren't happy with that," said Narendra Kusnur, the label's manager of international A&R (artists and repertoire).

Since the marketing campaign for Hilton's debut album "Paris," released in India Tuesday, has been sponsored by a shampoo company, the "Stars" video will be streamed on a promotional Web site, http://www.clinicallclear.com, once details are worked out.

"To the best of our knowledge, there are no rules yet regarding censorship on the 'Net so we plan to use the online platform to generate buzz," said EMI Virgin marketing manager Kaveri Khullar.

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Bruce Gary, the rock drummer who worked with George Harrison, Bob Dylan and Stephen Stills but is best known as The Knack's original drummer -- the man who played on the group's No. 1 hit "My Sharona" -- has died. He was 55.

Gary died Tuesday at Tarzana Medical Center of lymphoma, said Helen Gary, the drummer's mother.

Besides Harrison, Dylan and Stills, he recorded with Cream's Jack Bruce, Rod Stewart, Sheryl Crow, Bette Midler, Yoko Ono, Harry Nilsson and The Doors' guitarist Robby Krieger, according to the Web site www.brucegary.com. (The Web site had been suspended as of Thursday morning.)

Gary also worked with blues masters Albert Collins, Albert King and John Lee Hooker and toured with former Eagles member Randy Meisner and Spencer Davis. He also co-produced a series of posthumous releases from Jimi Hendrix, including the "Blues" compilation.

Gary also produced the CD of drum samples "Bruce Gary's Drum Vocabulary." The drum loops are popular in professional and home recording studios where they can be added to any song.

The Knack was formed in 1978 and a year later hit it big with "My Sharona." The group's debut album "Get the Knack" sold 6 million copies, followed by a second album "... But the Little Girls Understand," which sold 2 million.

Jessica Simpson's New Man: John Mayer

Jessica Simpson is embarking on a not-so-public affair – with singer-songwriter John Mayer, PEOPLE has confirmed.

"She's tiptoeing back into the dating world," a source tells PEOPLE. "It's the first stage. She's never been happier."

Mayer, 28, began a co-headlining tour with Sheryl Crow on Aug. 24, and Simpson, 26, is expected to attend his concert in Jones Beach, N.Y., on Wednesday night.

Simpson is currently in New York promoting her new album, A Public Affair, which was released Tuesday – although a bruised vocal cord has quashed any planned performances. (She did stop by MTV's TRL Tuesday and is set to appear on Today on Friday.)

Similarly, Mayer had to cancel his Hartford, Conn., appearance with Crow on Saturday due to laryngitis, the Associated Press reported.

Although Simpson has been linked to Jared Leto and her Employee of the Month costar and Teen Choice Awards cohost Dane Cook, Simpson has not officially dated anyone since her November 2005 separation from Nick Lachey.